Let’s celebrate Upper Mustang's Tiji (tenji) Festival 2023

January 22, 2023, Post by: Adventure Highpass

This year Tenji Festival is going to celebrate on 27, 28 and 29 May 2023. You must have to Pre-plan for this remote areas historical event. So hurry up !!!

The historical remote land Mustang is lies behind two big mountains Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range, center north of Nepal. It called the Forbidden kingdom of Mustang and it tucked away from the rest of the world. Lo Monthang, the head quarter of upper Mustang is known as The last wall city. It was a part of Tibetan kingdom until 1830s. The history of Lo Monthang embellished on myth and legend then record fact. Lo Monthang has their own status as separate principality till 1951. Trekking in upper mustang (over from Kagbeni ) was opened in 1992 by officially. Only limited numbers of trekkers can visit every years to protect and conserve their local Tibetan tradition and fragile environment.

Trekking to this forbidden kingdom of arid, ochre and vast valley, the Yak caravans, the colorful painted mud house, chhorten, stupa and Monastryon the behind of majestic mountain line of Annapurna, Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri. Adventure high Pass company regularly organizes trekking to the Mustang targeting TIJI festival a three days long known as The chasing of the Demons. It is one of the most important and popular festival of the Mustang region. At this festival monks dressed in elaborate masks and costumes perform dances and rituals that is the way supposed to drive away evil spirits. The color of dressed and flags in their finery, people from all over Mustang and Nepal gather in Lo Monthang to celebrate the Tiji festival.

How can we get?

Lets look our detail iteniry how you celebrate Tiji Festival and surrounding Upper Mustang

Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu. (18 May)

When you land Kathmandu in Tribhuvan International airport, you will be welcomed by a representative from adventure high pass. First we complete your Visa and other custom formalities; you will be transferred to the hotel organized by Great Vision along with your luggage. You then check in and take rest or you can visit our office and hang around as per your interest. You stay overnight at Kathmandu.

Day 2 : Kathmandu city tour and arrange the permits. (19 May)

Today, we tour to heritage sites at Kathmandu. We start a guide tour from your hotel to four heritage site in Kathmandu which is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First we visit to Pashupatinath Temple situated in Gausala and banks of Bagmati River where Aryaghat, famous funeral site for Hindus lies. After sightseeing, we visit to Boudhanatha, the Buddhists shrine which is one of the largest stupa in the world. Boudhhanath is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimages that include over 50 Tibetan Gompas or monasteries and popular tourist destination. Tour leads to Kathmandu Durbar Square also known as Basantapur holds the medieval king’s palaces who had ruled over Kathmandu Kingdom once. Our last tour will be Swayambhu (the self-existent) which is one of the famous touristic areas where we find large number of monkey population. After sightseeing, we go back to you hotel and you can take rest and prepare for trekking.

Day 3 : Drive or fly to Pokhara. (20 May)

Next morning, we prepare for ride to Pokhara in a tourist bus. You can also take flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara as per you want. Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is about 30 minutes. You can view outstanding views of snowy peaks during the flight. We stay overnight in Pokhara nearby Phewa lake in a hotel.

Day 4 : Pokhara to Jomsom by flight and trek to Kakbeni (2858m/9375ft) 3-4 hours (21 May)

From Pokhara, we take a flight to Jomsom which is about 20 minutes from Pokhara experience the beautiful Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Jomsom is a large town and headquarter of Mustang region. This region links age old trans-Himalayan salt trade route to Tibet. From Jomsom, our trekking begins towards the Kali Gandaki river bed and reach Ekley- bhatti village. We take a rest here for a while and continue the trail to Kagbeni lying at the bank of two rivers. Kagbeni is an amazing windswept village located on the main age old Trans Himalayan salt trade route to Tibet through Upper Mustang area.

Day 5 : Kakbeni to Chele (3050m/10004ft) 5-6 hours (22 May)

We will have a special permit check and then head towards riverbank of Kaligandaki up stream. During the trail, we come across sandy and windy trails following up and down the hill. We reach Tangbe village which has narrow alleys amongst fields of buckwheat, white washed houses, and wheat, barley and apple orchids. Following the trail towards Chhusang, crossing the river head we, we reach at Chele Village.

Day 6 : Trekking to Gelling.Chele to Syanbochen -Gelling (3475m/11398ft) 6-7 hours (23 May)

Walking further Eklo Bhatti, we climb up to Taklam La Pass (3624m) through plateaus with the views of Damodar Danda, Tilicho peak and Yakawa Kang. Descending further, we come across the Samar village and another 3 hours walk leads us to Syanbochen (3475m). After Syanbochen we drop to Poular village to Gelling. Where is a famous monetary.

Day 7 : Gelling to Ghami/Ghemi (3520m/11546ft) 5-6 hours (24 May)

we walk up hill to Yamda La (3850m) that pass through few tea houses, local villages and chorten. The houses are similar to Tibetan style house with open Varanda. Crossing the mountain pass, Barley field and avenue of popular tree, we climb to Nyi Pass (4010m). Walking further will lead us to the third largest village of Lo region, Ghami/Ghemi which is surrounded by large fields most are Barren.

Day 8 : Ghami to Charang (3500m/11480ft) 4-5 hours (25 May)

We will have a pheasant walk today. The trail climbs to plateau and passes crossing Ghyami Khola beside long Mani wall which is a sacred stone wall is made by Buddhism followers. Charang village lies to the east of the end wall.

Day 9 : Charang to Lo-Manthang (3700m/12136ft) 5-6 hours (26 May)

The trail descends to Charang Chu Canyon and climb steeply crossing the river. The trail heads further to windy pass of Lo where we can view Lo-Mangthang village. During the trail, we will have an outstanding view of Tilicho, Bhrikuti peak, Nilgiri and Annapurna I.

Day 10 : Festival day at Lo-Manthang (27 May)

We will have a day to explore Lo-Manthang.We will visit Tingkhar and Namgyal situated on hill top which is the important monastery of local community while Tingkhar is the last main village to northwest. We can also visit Tall Champa Lakhang, God house, the red Thugchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa. And main day of the festivel. This is the day festival start.We participant on Opening ceremony of Tiji festival (start at 3 pm and end at 5 pm)

Day 11 : Lo-Manthang - Tiji Festival. (28 May)

After breakfast we visit to Choser Cave monastery about 1.5 Hrs walk, back to lunch at hotel and enjoy for final day of Tiji Festival, till around 6 pm.

Day 12 : Lo- Manthang - Jomsom by Jeep. (29 May)

Today we will drive to Jomsom by Jeep. With the great valley view of Mustang Valley.

Day 13 : Early Morning flight to Pokhara and afternoon we have Pokhara city tour. (30 May)

After lovely trek back to City with beautiful natural city. afternoon we have walking excursion of city.

Day 14 : Drive or fly back to Kathmandu. (31 May) We can drive by bus, car or by flight.

Day 15 : Final day in Nepal. (1 June) shopping day or city tour.

Day 16 : Departure (2 june) Finish trek and fly back to your own country.

What is Included or Excluded In your Cost